Their popular album Light Up the Night was released in March 1980 and got as high as number 5 on the Billboard 200. It was number 46 on the "Top 100 LP's of 1980" list in Rolling Stone Magazine. The subsequent album, Winners, was self-produced by the brothers and released in July 1981, but was less successful, going only as high as number 48 on the Billboard 200.
Among their most popular songs are "I'll Be Good to You" (Hot 100 #3 in 1976), "Strawberry Letter 23" (Hot 100 # 5 in 1977), "Ain't We Funkin' Now" (1978), and "Stomp!" (Hot 100 #7 and Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1 in 1980). Their styles include funk, disco, and R&B ballads. The duo split up in 1982.
Guitarist/vocalist George Johnson and bassist/vocalist Louis Johnson formed the band Johnson Three Plus One with older brother Tommy and their cousin Alex Weir while attending school in Los Angeles. When they became professionals, the band backed such touring R&B acts as Bobby Womack and the Supremes. George and Louis Johnson later joined Billy Preston's band, and wrote "Music in My Life" and "The Kids and Me" for him before leaving his group in 1973. In 1976, The Brothers covered the Beatles song, "Hey, Jude", for the ephemeral musical documentary All This and World War II.
Quincy Jones hired them to play on his LP Mellow Madness, and recorded four of their songs, including "Is It Love That We're Missing?" and "Just a Taste of Me." Jones took them on a Japanese tour, then produced their début LP, Look Out for Number 1, after they signed with A&M, which was also his label at the time (1976). They scored a number-one R&B and number-three pop hit with "I'll Be Good to You," and enjoyed R&B chart toppers in 1977 and 1980 respectively with "Strawberry Letter 23" and "Stomp!," while sustaining a consistent hit presence via such songs as "Get the Funk Out Ma Face" and "Runnin' for Your Lovin." Jones remade "I'll Be Good to You" in 1989 with Ray Charles and Chaka Khan on his Back on the Block release.
The Brothers earned platinum records for Look Out for Number 1 and Right on Time. Jones produced both of these, along with their third and fourth LPs, Blam and Light Up the Night. The group produced its single "The Real Thing" in 1981. It reached number 11 on the R&B charts, and the Brothers had another hit with "Welcome to the Club" in 1982. They started doing separate ventures; Louis Johnson played bass on Michael Jackson's Thriller LP and recorded a gospel album, while George Johnson worked with Steve Arrington. Leon Sylvers produced their mid-'80s return LP Out of Control; it didn't equal their past success, but got them another R&B hit with "You Keep Coming Back" in 1984. They recorded Kickin' in 1988, and co-wrote "Tomorrow" with Siedah Garrett for Jones' Back on the Block in 1989.
Runnin' For Your Lovin'
Brothers Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Searching life's long fantasies are through
Giving all we've got to give wouldn't do
You try so hard, I'll get into the mood
Now it's time to kiss and say farewell
Before I go there's something I should tell
Runnin' for your lovin'
When you need someone
Runnin' for your lovin'
[Unverified] I got some
Runnin' for your lovin'
Let me kiss ya' 'cause I miss ya'
Runnin' for your lovin'
I will do
Runnin' for your lovin'
If you need some affection
Runnin' for your lovin'
Point me in the right direction
Runnin' for your lovin'
Say you'll let me love you
Runnin' for your lovin'
I will do
Now you see another side of me
Wanting to still love you, can't you see?
Will you love me, kiss me, hug me, tell
Chances are we'll find each other well
I'll come running
Runnn' for your lovin'
For you lovin'
I'll come
Runnn' for you lovin'
For your love
Runnin'
I'll hunt you very far
Just to be right where your are
You know I'm runnnin' for your love
For you lovin'
Runnin'
To be close to you, you know it's true
That I'll squeeze you girl and love you too
For you lovin'
I'm gonna get ya'
Runnin'
I'll showed [unverified]
Your love is so sweet, it won't change
For you lovin'
Runnin'
Runnin' here
Runnin' there
Runnin' everywhere, I swear
For you lovin'
Runnin'
Yow
For you lovin'
For you lovin'
I'll hunt you very far
Just to be right where your are
You know I'll, I'll get ya'
For you lovin'
Runnin'
To be close to you you know its true
That I'll squeeze you girl, and love you too
I'm gonna get ya'
For you lovin'
Runnin'
I'll showed [unverified]
Your love is so sweet, it won't change
For you lovin'
Runnin'
Well, well, well, runnin' here
Runnin' there
Runnin' everywhere, I swear
For you lovin'
Runnin'
I'll run all over the world for you
Got to get your love
Got to get your sweet, sweet love
For you lovin'
Got to get your love
Got to get your love
The song "Runnin' For Your Lovin'" by Brothers Johnson speaks about the struggles two people go through after breaking up. The lyrics talk about how their lives have changed since they parted ways and how they have been searching for fulfillment in their lives. However, they realize that despite their effort to move on, they still love each other and want to be together again.
The chorus of the song, "Runnin' for your lovin'" is repeated multiple times to emphasize their desire to be with each other. The singers promise to do whatever it takes to get back together with their lover, even if it means running all over the world. They want to show their affection and try to persuade their lover to give the relationship another chance.
The song's lyrics are straightforward, and the meaning is clear. The chorus is the standout element of the song and is repeated multiple times, emphasizing their commitment to their lover. The message of the song is relatable as many people have experienced the struggles of a breakup and the desire to be with someone they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Since we've part, our lives become a new
After our separation, we both started new lives
Searching life's long fantasies are through
We have given up on chasing unrealistic dreams
Giving all we've got to give wouldn't do
Even if we tried our best, it wouldn't be enough
You try so hard, I'll get into the mood
While you put in effort, I'll start reciprocating
Now it's time to kiss and say farewell
Before I leave, I want to bid goodbye with a kiss
Before I go there's something I should tell
I have something to say before I depart
I'll be
Runnin' for your lovin'
When you need someone
Runnin' for your lovin'
I'll always be there for you, running to your side when you need someone
Runnin' for your lovin'
[Unverified] I got some
I'm running for your love, and I have got some to give
Runnin' for your lovin'
Let me kiss ya' 'cause I miss ya'
I miss you and want to kiss you while I'm running for your love
Runnin' for your lovin'
I will do
I'll do anything when I'm running for your love
Runnin' for your lovin'
If you need some affection
I'm running to offer you affection when you need it
Runnin' for your lovin'
Point me in the right direction
Tell me where to go, and I'll run there for your love
Runnin' for your lovin'
Say you'll let me love you
If you allow me to love you, I'll run for your love all the time
I'll come running
Runnn' for your lovin'
For you lovin'
I'll come to you, running for your love whenever you need me
I'll come
Runnn' for you lovin'
For your love
I'm coming to run for your love because I want it so badly
I'll hunt you very far
Just to be right where your are
You know I'm runnnin' for your love
For you lovin'
I'll search far and wide for you, just to be where you are, running for your love
To be close to you, you know it's true
That I'll squeeze you girl and love you too
For you lovin'
I'll run to you, wanting to be near you, kiss you and love you passionately, all for your love
I'll showed [unverified]
Your love is so sweet, it won't change
For you lovin'
I'll take action to prove my love for you, and nothing can change how sweet your love is
Runnin' here
Runnin' there
Runnin' everywhere, I swear
For you lovin'
I'll run here, there, and everywhere, making a promise to run only for your love
I'll run all over the world for you
Got to get your love
Got to get your sweet, sweet love
For you lovin'
I'm willing to run all over the world to get your love, your sweet, sweet love, only for your love
Got to get your love
Got to get your love
I need to get your love because it is that important to me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE HENRY JOHNSON, LOUIS E. JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Don Gray
Album facts : George Johnson – Lead Guitar, Lead and Backing Vocals.
Louis Johnson – Bass, Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer, Lead and Backing Vocals.
Harvey Mason, Sr. – Drums
Lee Ritenour, David T. Walker – Guitar.
Dave Grusin, Ian Underwood, Michael Boddicker – Keyboards, Synthesizer
Ralph MacDonald – Percussion
Mic Gillette – Trombone, Trumpet
Emilio Castillo – Tenor Saxophone
Stephen Kupka – Baritone Saxophone
Lenny Pickett – Alto Saxophone
Greg Adams – Trumpet
Alex Weir, Jim Gilstrap, Richard Heath, Mortonette Jenkins, Stephanie Spruill, Oren Waters, Alexandra Brown – Backing Vocals
L Arnold Dempsey
This album was gifted to me when I was 12. I still have it and play my vinyl records.
HumbleOne07
Still sounds good after all of these years!
James Tyson
Yah .....!
Kapri29Korn
Duh.
Capcoor
Doesn’t it though?
LEWIS JONES
RIP LOUIS JOHNSON AKA THUNDER THUMBS!
Anthony Thomas sr
Somethings don't change I'll come running for your lovin horns please
kenpalmer1965
This was my junior high school music! Whew! Incredible funky memories! This was a fantastic group back in 1977. Everybody I knew liked and listened to them, even my band teacher! This was the stuff to listen to back then.
Gilbert Bolden Jr.
Thunder thumb killed that bass line. RIP Louis Johnson!
Joint2Joint
When that bass line kicks in @ 3:05 I feel like my soul vacates my body for a split second. Thank You Louis, you were the man...